Dynamic Checkout: Same day delivery

Purpose: Once you've configured Dynamic Checkout, you can offer Same day delivery to your customers on your checkout page. Follow the steps below to create your Same day shipping methods and learn how Sendcloud helps you process them in time for delivery the very same day. 

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Same day deliveries through Dynamic Checkout

A Same-day delivery is a delivery method that allows an order to be placed and delivered on the same day. It’s an ideal solution for urgent packages that require special attention or when you want to offer your customers exceptionally flexible shipping options.

Due to the time-conscious nature of Same day shipments, this feature is currently only available for domestic (national) shipments through select carriers.

Step 1: Set up Same day delivery

First, make sure you've installed Dynamic Checkout for your integration and configured your delivery zones. Then proceed as follows: 

1. In Settings > Dynamic Checkout, next to your integration click Edit
2. Next, click on New delivery method next to the delivery zone where you want to offer Same day delivery. Please note: you must have an active sender address in this country.
   
3. Select Same day delivery from the list of delivery methods

Step 2: Select your shipping service

This section of the configuration menu allows you to select which carrier and options you want to offer on your checkout page.

The shipping services displayed for you to select from are based on the carriers which you have enabled in your account, or for which you have a direct carrier contract, and which offer a shipping method which has a transit time of 24 hours or less. 

How to select your shipping service 

1. Click Select next to the shipping service you want to offer. 
2. You can use the +add filter button to filter the list based on which additional shipping options are available*. 
3. Continue to Step 3

Step 3: Choose your shipping options

Once you’ve selected your shipping service, it’s time to add on the extra delivery options you want to offer. 

1. Make your choices based on the available options. For example, under Signature required you can select Yesor No depending on your preference. 
   
   
2. The options you choose will then be used to calculate which shipping methods will be applied to your incoming orders. The applicable shipping methods will be listed under Shipping methods used to process orders.

Understanding Shipping Functionalities in Dynamic Checkout

In Dynamic Checkout, functionalities (also called shipping options) define how a shipment should be handled, allowing customization of the delivery experience. These include:

Signature required – Ensures that only the recipient can receive the package.
Age check (18+) – Requires the recipient to verify their age upon delivery.
Delivery to a neighbor – Allows deliveries to be left with a neighbor if the recipient is unavailable.
Letterbox parcel – Specifies that the parcel is small enough to fit into a mailbox.
Specific transit time – Ensures delivery within a certain timeframe.
Weekend delivery – Enables deliveries on weekends.
Insurance or transport protection – Offers additional coverage for valuable shipments.

When do users need to select functionalities?

In Dynamic Checkout, functionalities are selectable only when a shipping product (a group of shipping methods) contains multiple shipping methods with different functionalities.

✅ User selection required:
If the available shipping methods within a shipping product offer different functionalities, you must select the desired functionalities. This helps determine which shipping method should be used.
❌ No selection needed:
If all shipping methods within a shipping product have the same functionalities, you will not need to make a selection; Sendcloud will automatically apply the matching functionalities.

Why are some functionalities available while others are not?

The availability of functionalities depends on several factors:

✅ Functionalities are available when:
Carrier Support – The selected carrier must support the functionality.
Shipping Service Compatibility – Some functionalities are tied to specific shipping services.
Subscription Plan – Certain functionalities may be exclusive to specific Sendcloud plans.
Integration Type – Availability may vary based on WooCommerce, Magento, or API integration.

❌ Functionalities may not be available due to:
Carrier Constraints – If a carrier does not support a functionality, it cannot be selected.
Shipping Rules Conflicts – Configured shipping rules may prevent certain functionalities from being applied.
Predefined Carrier Settings – Some functionalities are preset by the carrier and cannot be changed.
Delivery Method Restrictions – Certain functionalities may not be compatible with specific delivery methods.

Filtering Shipping Services by Functionalities

To ensure you select the right shipping service:

1. Click +Add filter when choosing a shipping service.
2. Select the functionalities required for your shipments.
3. The list will update to display only the shipping services that match these requirements.

Step 4: Configure shipping rates

Before your delivery method can be displayed, you need to add pricing. 

Click on  Use shipping rates to add pricing for your shipping method. Here can use default weight classes or define your own custom weight classes. If you choose the default weight classes, you will be using the weight classes predefined by the shipping service that you have activated. If you choose to customize your weight classes, you can create your own by clicking +New weight class. Select the option that suits you best.

Step 5: Holidays

In this section, you can enter the days during the year in which you or the carrier won't be processing or delivering parcels. For example, you can create a holiday for national holidays, workshops, training events, etc. You can select a range of days or a single day, and mark it as recurring yearly or as a one time event. 

For same day shipping methods, any holidays you add here will mean that this specific shipping method won't be available to customers on these days, as same day orders are shipped out on the day they are created. 

Step 6: Parcel handover days, start time & cut-off times

• Parcel handover days
  Select the days you hand your parcels over for delivery, either directly to a service point or via a carrier collection. Leave the days you don't hand your parcels over unselected. 
• Start time & Cut-off time
  
  Start time: Enter the earliest time at which this shipping method becomes available for customers to select at checkout.
  This helps ensure that same-day orders can only be placed within a specific timeframe.
  Cut-off time: Enter the latest time from which this shipping method will no longer be available for customers to select.
  For example, if you don’t plan to process, pack, and hand over parcels after 15:00, this would be your cut-off time. From 15:00 onwards, this method won’t appear in your checkout.
  
  Tip: When setting your start time and cut-off time, consider:
  The operational hours of your fulfillment process.
  The time required to prepare and hand over parcels to the carrier.
  The specific carrier’s collection schedule.
  
  By defining both the start time and cut-off time, you can ensure that same-day deliveries are processed within the correct timeframe and avoid unexpected delays.

Step 7. Checkout rules and method details

Checkout Rules: Managing Start Time, Cut-off Time, and Availability

Checkout Rules help you customize your checkout process by automatically showing or hiding delivery methods based on specific conditions. This feature works with the Checkout API, giving you more control and flexibility to improve the customer experience.

With Checkout Rules, you can:

• Display only relevant delivery options based on location, parcel size, or other factors.
• Improve the checkout process for a smoother customer journey.
• Ensure better accuracy in shipping availability and costs.

Configuring Checkout Rules
Navigate to Settings > Checkout Rules.
Select the Create new Rule and define your rule
Click Save Checkout Rule.

Find more details about Checkout Rules here.

Methods details

Under the section Method details, give your shipping method an external and internal title, as well as a public description that will appear under the public title in your checkout.

Step 8: Save and publish

1. Click the Save delivery method button at the bottom of the page to save.
   
    
2. To publish your delivery method to your webshop, click the Publish button in the Dynamic Checkout configuration
   

Step 9: Process your same day deliveries in time 

Orders will be imported into Shipping > Orders > incoming order overview in the Sendcloud panel as normal, however you will now be able to see an additional column in your overview called Parcel handover date. This column tells you when to process your orders, so they reach your customer on time. 

• Orders which must be processed and handed over to the carrier today will appear with this icon:
  
  
• Orders which are overdue will appear with this icon: 
  
  

Filter by parcel handover date

You can also filter your orders using the +add filter button. For example, you can filter your view to show all the orders which must be processed today: